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Just like all mankind, David’s kingship nor his godliness will keep him from going the way of all of the earth. The final words of King David, will echo in King Solomon’s mind long after his father has passed. Solomon will face many difficult decisions.

1 Kings 2:1–4 (CSB) 

As the time approached for David to die, he ordered his son Solomon, “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be a man, and keep your obligation to the LORD your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn, and so that the Lord will fulfill his promise that he made to me: ‘If your sons take care to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

He must be strong. He must be a man - speak the truth and be ready to stand for what is right - even when others oppose him. 

Solomon must walk in the ways of Yahweh and obey His commands. The commands are found in the law of Moses - the Scriptures.

Throughout both the Old and New Testament Scriptures God’s people are told to be strong and courageous - to TRUST Yahweh and DO what He says…regardless of what others say. We see this from Moses to Joshua → Yahweh to Joshua → Joshua to Israel → David to Solomon → Paul to the church.

• The same is true for YOU and ME!

How can we KNOW what Yahweh says? We are privileged to not only have the writings of Moses (Gen-Deut), but the entirety of the Old & New Covenant writings! We are to KNOW & OBEY Yahweh’s commands as written in the Scriptures.

• Make sure to NEVER READ A BIBLE VERSE…read the whole chapter. Reading the context transforms how we understand, apply, and teach God’s Word.

You will have success in everything you do. This promise was given specifically to Solomon. We are not Israel’s king, and God has not promised us uninterrupted peace and prosperity. But Scripture does give followers of Jesus a deeper definition of success: 

Biblical Success

• Accomplishing what God has assigned us.
• Living wisely under God’s direction.
• Producing the fruit God desires.
• Remaining spiritually stable when storms come.
• Receiving God’s approval, even when faithfulness is costly.

Here’s the promise Yahweh made to David…‘you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

This is a GREAT promise, but Solomon and his descendants would not continue walking faithfully. A time would come when Israel had no descendant of David sitting on the throne. Yet God would not abandon His promise. ONE MAN from the tribe of Judah, born into David’s family in David’s hometown of Bethlehem, WOULD reign on the throne forever.

Sadly, Solomon and his sons would NOT fulfill this and there WOULD be a time when Israel would have no descendent of David on the throne….until ONE MAN from the tribe of Judah, born to the family of David, delivered in David’s hometown of Bethlehem - WOULD sit on the throne for all eternity. 

• Joab had just overstepped King David’s authority by siding with Adonijah - the son of David claiming to be the next king.
• Joab murdered Abner, the former commander of Saul’s army, by taking him aside and stabbing him (2 Samuel 3:27).
• Joab also killed Amasa, the former commander of Absalom, whom David appointed over the army in Joab’s place.
• Joab stabbed him too (2 Samuel 20:9–10)
• Joab ignored David’s direct command, thrust three spears into Absalom, and allowed his armor-bearers to finish killing him (2 Sam 18).

Solomon was to make sure that Joab died - not allowing him to live a long life and die in peace.

Remember the rock chucker who was cursing David out? When Absalom is killed and it becomes obvious that David is being reestablished as king, Shimei changes teams. Even after this man’s wickedness toward David, the king had allowed Shimei to live and had promised not to kill him.

David wants Solomon to keep his eye on this chameleon—a man who seems to change his colors to match his environment. David wants Solomon to use wise DISCERNMENT on how he deals with Shemei. And that is exactly what he does. Go read about it in 1 Kings 2:36-46.

That is the end of David’s life on earth. Samuel introduced us to Israel’s first kings, and we saw the sinfulness of each one.

Samuel leaves us longing for a PERFECT KING - a SINLESS KING - an ETERNAL KING. 

• That description belongs to the Lord Jesus alone!

Jesus is forever tied to the name of “David”. People repeatedly recognize Jesus as the “Son of David”

• The Canaanite woman whose daughter was tormented by a demon cried out: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!” (Mt 15:22)
• Blind Bartimaeus yells out: “Jesus, Son of David!, have mercy on me!” (Mk 10:47-48)

• David was the shepherd → Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
• David was God’s anointed king → Jesus is the Messiah/Christ—the Anointed King.
• David defeated Israel’s enemies → Jesus defeats sin, death, and Satan.
• David ruled from Jerusalem → Jesus reigns eternally.
• David received God’s covenant promise → Jesus fulfills that promise.
• David died and remained in the grave → Jesus died and rose again.
• David was Israel’s king → Jesus is both David’s Son and also called David’s Lord.

In Jesus’ day, many people knew where David’s tomb was still among them in Jerusalem - an OCCUPIED tomb (Acts 2:29).

Through Him everyone who believes is set free from sin. This same story has been replayed many times.

• David’s final words told Solomon how he should live.
• God’s enduring Word tells all of us where life, freedom, and forgiveness are found—in David’s greater Son, Jesus Christ.
• Have you trusted Jesus? Be strong, walk in His ways, and serve God’s purpose in your generation until our King returns.